II 1.Let’s talk about shopping. Who does the shopping in your family?

Variant I

Well, it goes without saying that we can’t do without shopping. My mother usually does the shopping in our family because she does most of the cooking, so she knows what she needs to buy. But when it concerns everyday things like bread and milk it is usually me who buys them. There is a supermarket near our house, so it doesn’t take me much time to do the shopping.

Variant II

My parents do most of the shopping in our family. They usually drive to the supermarket where they go to the grocery, greengrocery, meat and fish departments and buy all the food we need for our family. They usually do it once a week.

Shopping is also a chore for me. There is a small supermarket near our house so when my mum asks me I go there to buy bread or milk or something we’ve run out.

Sometimes shopping is a kind of pastime and even entertainment for me and my mother. We can spend hours walking from one shop to another in search of something special.

Variant III

Shopping is a part of our daily life. And we have to deal with it whether we like it or not. There are people who hate going shopping. So they make a list of what they need and run through stores buying the needed things. Sometimes they even don’t care about the price. And there are people who go from store to store looking for goods of better quality and lower price. They don’t worry about the time they spend shopping.

Modern technology affects people’s lifestyles and daily routine. Now we can do our shopping not only in stores or markets but also on the Internet. No doubt shopping online is more convenient and less time consuming but on the other hand buying clothes without trying them on or perfume without smelling it may not seem a good idea. My family buys only big things like TV-sets, notebooks or wardrobes on the Internet.

Variant IV

Some people hate shopping. So they make a list of what they need and run through stores. Others make a hobby of shopping tours. They go from store to store looking for goods of better quality and lower price. Like most girls I like shopping.

Modern shopping centres do their best to prove to you that shopping may be fun. That’s why they tend to combine shopping and leisure. A modern shopping centre often looks like a city under one roof. Besides a great variety of stores, shops and outlets one can find there theme parks with rides, amusements and games. If you are tired you can enjoy delicious food in a restaurant or just have a snack in a cafeteria or a café. Information desk will help you not to be at a loss and to save your time.

To make shopping convenient for all, shopping centres offer you free of charge: late night shopping, recreation areas, special facilities for the elderly and disabled and shopping trolleys and baskets.

 

II 2.Is Minsk a shopper’s paradise? Why (not)?

II 3.What questions will you ask your friend who has bought an expensive telephone?

Is it a brand new model?

How much is it?

Does it have an access to the Internet?

II 4.What can you advise a teenager who wants to buy a birthday present for his/her friend?

Variant I

To my mind, a birthday present isn’t only something valuable in terms of money but both useful and memorable for the person to whom it will be presented. A useful thing which won’t be put away immediately will always bring the memories about the celebration back making a person smile at the thought of the event. Choosing a present we should take into consideration likes and dislikes of the person who will get the gift. Maybe the present ought to have something to do with his hobby. Before giving a present you are expected to make a speech. Try to come up with the one that will highlight the best things about your present and the person who will get it.

Variant II

First I should say, buying gifts for teens is not easy. Secondly, I advise you to find out as much as possible about his or her hobbies, interests, likes and dislikes. Nowadays teens are much into communication so an inexpensive gadget will be a good idea.

At the same time teenagers like surprises so if you are a creative person think of something unusual.

Be practical!

 

II 5.Some teenagers think that parents should pay them for doing their household chores. Do you share their opinion?

I think it is a very good idea to pay children to do household chores. My parents did it to me, and I think by doing so it taught me the meaning of hard earn money. This attitude motivated me to work hard.

№3

Let’s talk about shopping. Are you a shopaholic?

Are your parents happy about the way you spend your money? Why? Why not?

What questions can you ask your friend about the best shopping places in his/her native city/town?

Advise me on how to make my own budget.

Parents usually give pocket money to their children. But some people think they shouldn’t do it as teenagers don’t work. What do you think about it?

III 1.Let’s talk about shopping. Are you a shopaholic?

Fortunately, I think I’m not.

A shopaholic is someone who shops compulsively – someone who cannot stop themselves shopping. Just as an alcoholic craves the next drink, a shopaholic craves the next purchase. For them, money is like a drug: spending it gives them a high.

It is easier to be a shopaholic these days than in the past because more people have a disposable income (spending money) nowadays. In addition to that, we now live in a consumer society - there are simply more goods available in the shops than there used to be.

However, shopaholics allegedly did exist in the past. Cases such as Marie Antoinette of France are cited. Other figures in history include Jackie Onassis, Imelda Marcos and Princess Diana, all of whom apparently manifested shopaholic symptoms.

Although no one knows exactly what causes the disorder it may have its roots in feelings of low self-esteem and insecurity – feelings which are not exclusive to the 21st century.

According to some studies 1 in 20 people is a shopaholic and 9 out of 10 shopaholics are women. But these statistics can be misleading. Traditionally, if a man buys lots and lots of the same sort of thing he is labelled a ‘collector’ not a shopaholic. Is there really so much difference between, say, William Randolph Hearst (who collected antiques) and President Lincoln’s wife (who collected gloves)?

Generally speaking, female compulsive shoppers tend to buy clothes, shoes, make-up and CDs whereas male shopaholics tend to spend on clothes, shoes, electronic equipment and gadgets, CDs and books.

Answer these questions to find out if you are suffering from the symptoms of a compulsive spending disorder.

1. Do you go shopping to cheer yourself up?

2. Do you frequently get into debt as a result of your shopping sprees?

3. Do you often buy things you will never use?

4. Have you tried to change your behaviour and failed?

5. Do you think your life would improve if you stopped shopping so much?

Can shopaholics be treated?

As yet there has been little research into this phenomenon. No cure has been found so far and clinical drug trials have revealed only that patients respond equally to the drugs and the placebos.

For the time being, the best course of action for a shopaholic seems to be to go shopping with a friend who will help them to control their compulsion to shop to excess.

 

III 2.Are your parents happy about the way you spend your money? Why? Why not?

Nearly all teenagers can afford to buy small things because parents give them pocket money. I think it is quite reasonable. We spend a lot of time at school and we need money to buy something to eat during the day. We can also buy some small things for ourselves, like exercise-books, toothpaste, or perfume. My parents are quite happy about the way I spend my pocket money because I don’t spend money on trifles, I try to be thrifty.

 

III 3.What questions can you ask your friend about the best shopping places in his/her native city/town?

Is there any shopping centre in your city?

What shops would you recommend to visit?

Is there a market place in your city?

What is the best hi-fi shop in your city?